. >> reporter: like many cities baltimore has long sold ad space on trains and buses. but now politicians here are seeing red. how unusual is this idea? >> unusual. >> reporter: this councilman is behind the proposal to sell ads on fire trucks to stop the cash-strapped city from closing three stations including this one for good. >> it's not selling out. having advertising puts control in the hands of the fire department itself. >> please don't shut down these companies. >> reporter: the city council just voted to support the measure. >> when i first heard the bill i thought i was idiotic. but after the shock wore off this shows how far that we have to go to think outside-the-box. >> reporter: apparently baltimore isn't the only town thinking outside of that box. city leaders throughout the country are getting creative to make end meet. chicago has sold ad space on some of its iconic bridges to bank of america. philadelphia has rented out a transit station to at&t. and brazil, indiana let k of c advertise their chicken wings on fire hydrants. but some say mixing the tw